By Cara Goger —
MARIPOSA COUNTY — The Mariposa County Arts Council welcomes you to the 30th Annual Mariposa Storytelling Festival.
This year will be the Grand Finale of this time-honored festival, featuring six acclaimed, all-time county-favorite tellers: Bil Lepp, Marilyn McPhie, David Novak, Tim Tingle, Donna Washington, and Kim Weitkamp.
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Prepare to be captivated and celebrate culture, family, and truths that link us all.
The Festival will be held at the Mariposa County High School on Friday, Mar. 10 and Saturday, Mar. 11.
There will be a special brunch with the storytellers on Sunday, Mar. 12. Complementing the festival will be the Story Slam! on the evening of Thursday, Mar. 9 and the Science of Story workshop with teller Kim Weitkamp on Monday, Mar. 13.
Story Slam!
Harness your creativity and tell a 5-minute true and original story based on the theme “…And It Could Be Dangerous.”
This free event holds endless entertainment for all brave storytellers willing to participate. Cash prizes are awarded to 1st-3rd place winners who present stellar teller performances and well-crafted themed stories. Always outrageous (…and could be dangerous), start your festival with Story Slam! at 7 p.m. at the Methodist Church on the corner of Bullion Street and 6th Street.
Children’s Concert
The festival’s Children’s Concert begins Saturday Mar. 11 at 2 p.m. with master storyteller, David Novak. Intended specifically for children, Novak performs with a “great physical awareness, a real sense of suspense, humor, and integrity” (Lincoln Center Institute). His bold and warm personality and stories draft him as a festival great, not to be missed at this year’s Grand Finale.
This concert will have ASL interpretation for the hearing impaired and is free for children accompanied by an adult ($4/adult).
Science of Story
Learn the craft of storytelling with the best and brightest, featured teller Kim Weitkamp on Monday, Mar. 13. The Science of Story Workshop is designed for all levels of storytellers, teachers, writers, organization directors, youth leaders, parents, students and community members who use story in their daily oral communication.
Weitkamp has given storytelling workshops around the world – coaching, teaching, and entertaining participants from business leaders to high school students. Science of Story will be held from 6-9 p.m. at the Catholic Church’s Upper Parish Hall and has a registration fee of $40.
The Festival’s Friday and Saturday’s events take place at Mariposa County High School, Sunday’s Pancake Brunch and Grand Finale Stories will be at the Mariposa Senior Center. Tickets for the Mariposa Storytelling Festival and Science of Story may be purchased online at www.mariposaartscouncil.org, or contact the Mariposa County Arts Council at (209) 966-3155 or (800) 903-9936, for more information.
The MARIPOSA COUNTY ARTS COUNCIL, INC. is an incorporated not-for-profit organization, created to promote and support all forms of the cultural arts, for all ages, throughout Mariposa County and is funding in part by Mariposa County, the California Arts Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
